Manchester United have completed the signing of Vitesse Arnhem full-back Alexander Buttner on a five-year deal.

Alexander Buttner was disappointed to miss out on a move to Southampton but has now been snapped up by Manchester United (Picture: EPA)

The 23-year-old was banished to training with the youth team after a row when Vitesse prevented him joining Southampton recently, but he has now secured a far more lucrative switch.

‘If a week ago, you told me that together with Robin van Persie I would be playing at Manchester United, I would have driven you straight to the mad house,’ Buttner told Dutch television before the move went through.

Following the completion of the deal, he said ‘joining Manchester United is one of the best days of my life.

‘It’s a team I have admired for many years now and I can’t wait to join my teammates and play my part in helping the club be successful.’

Speaking about the player, who made 119 appearances for Vitesse in four years, United boss Sir Alex Ferguson said ‘Alexander is one of the best young left backs in Europe and we’re delighted to sign him.’He’s someone we’ve been watching for a while now. He gives us some really exciting options in that position.’

The arrival of a new left back at Old Trafford is likely to mean the end of United’s interest in Everton’s Leighton Baines and Lyon’s Aly Cissokho as possible rivals to regular first choice Patrice Evra.